Trailer tent frame



March 11, 1958 fr. HEM. I TRAILER TENT FRAMEv Fina Aug. 8,* 1955 ffl Y INVENToR Tbeoaore .Heil

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March l1, 1958 V T. HElL TRAILER TENT FRAME Filed'Aug.' 8, 19'55 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY am United States Patent TRAILER TENT FRAME Theodore Heil, Lodi, Calif., assignor to Heilite Trailers, Lodi, Calif., a limited partnership Application August 8, 1955, Serial No. 526,897

2 Claims. (Cl. 13S-4) This invention relates in general to an improvement in camp tents of the type which include a foldable frame arranged in connection with a vehicle trailer; the frametogether with the attached tent cover-when folded, resting at on top of the body of the trailer for transport, and when erected providing the support for the tent cover which then not only encompasses such body from above, but extends laterally to form an enclosurefrom the ground upward-alongside the trailer.

. In particular the present invention represents an irnprovement in the trailer tent shown in my United States Letters Patent No. 2,513,411, dated July 4, 1950.

it is the major object of the present invention to provide a foldable frame, for a trailer tent of the type described, which-when erected-extends in a lateral direction a substantially greater distance from the body of the trailer than in the embodiment of my above identi ed patent, whereby the frame supported tent cover can be correspondingly increased in width to thus form a larger and more convenient enclosure alongside the trailer.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a foldable tent frame, as above, which is arranged so that-when erected-the outermost portion of said frame is supported directly from the ground, 4so as to insure stability of the erected tent and to prevent sagging or wrinkling of the cover.

l An additional object of the invention is to provide a foldable frame, as in the preceding paragraph, which includes a novel extension bow adapted to top-support the main part of the cover which forms the enclosure alongside the trailer; the extension bow-when in usehaving a reach greater than the width of the trailer, but being adjustable so that such reach may be reduced to an extent that said extension bow may fold, with the remainder of the frame, onto the body of the trailer without projection therefrom.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a foldable frame for a trailer tent which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture, and convenience of erection; the frame being light weight but sturdy.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a practical and reliable foldable frame, for a trailer tent, and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a trailer tent, embodying the present invention, as erected for use.

Fig. 2 is a side to side sectional elevation of the same, except for the trailer.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation, foreshortened, taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Eig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section taken Patented Mar. l1, 1958 on line 4-4 of Fig. 3, but with the adjacent portion of the tent cover omitted.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation, foreshortened, showing one of the adjustable legs of the extension bow; such leg being illustrated in the position occupied thereby when the frame is erected.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional View taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5. v

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, the present invention is embodied in a camp tent of the typeas shown in my hereinbefore identified patentwhich is mounted in connection with a trailer, indicated generally at 1; the trailer including a box-like body 2, a supporting wheel unit 3, and corner legs 4 which stabilize the body 2 from the ground when the tent is in use. The legs 4 may be foldable against the bottom of the body 2 for transport, or removably mounted, as desired.

The foldable tent frame includes-by reference to its erected positiona laterally inwardly extending, upwardly inclined bow S, a vertical intermediate bow 6, and a laterally outwardly extending, upwardly inclined bow 7; the bows 5, 6, and 7 being disposed at their lower free ends in adjacent relation immediately above one of the upper longitudinal edges of the box-like body 2. At such ends the bows 5, 6, and 7 are connected to the body 2 by pivotal attachment units, one of which is indicated generally at 8, and by means of which units said bows may be folded together and downwardly onto the top of the body 2.

in their erected positions, as in Fig. 2, the bows 5, 6, and 7 are maintained properly spaced by spanning tie straps, one of which is indicated at 9, which are not only secured to said bows but extend to and are connected with the body 2 at the upper longitudinal edge thereof opposite the attachment units 8. To this extent the frame of the trailer tent is substantially the same as in my said prior patent, but otherwise such frame is materially improved, by reason of the following structure:

An extension bow, indicated generally at 10, extends laterally outwardly and at a downward incline from immediately adjacent the outer corners of the bow 7; such extension bow including end legs 11 and an outer cross bar 12. The free ends of the legs 11 are pivotally connected, as at 13, to brackets 14 fixed on the end legs 15 of the bow 7 immediately adjacent the top cross bar 16 thereof.

The brackets 14, which are dog-leg or substantially L-shaped, are mounted so that the pivots 13 lie close to but outwardly of the top cross bar 16, and whereby the extension bow 1li-when adjusted, as will hereinafter appear, to reduce its effective reach-may fold substantially flat against said bow 7.

The end legs 11 of the extension bow 16 are telescopic, each including-at the end portion adjacent the brackets 14-a rod 17 which slidably engages in the remainder of the leg, and which rod is normally in locked-up position by means of a finger screw 18 threaded through the adjacent end portion of said remainder of the leg.

The extent to which each of the end legs 11 can be adjusted to decrease its effective length is limited by stops 19 on the rod 17.

`When the linger screw 1S of each of the adjustable end legs 11 is released and said leg is adjusted to increase its effective length, the following means is provided to vassure against over-adjustment and withdrawal of the rod 17:

The rod 17 of each adjustable end leg 11 is formednear its free end, and which is the end within the remainder of the leg-with a hook 20 into which a stop pin 21 is adapted to drop at the desired limit.

The stop pin 21 is externally headed, as at 22, and thence projects through a hole in the leg; there being a sleeve 23 of resilient matetialsurrounding said lleg in engagement with th'epin head 22. Snchsleeve`-therefore yieldably urges the stoppinZll inwardly, for the purpose of assuring its engagementin the'ho'oldZ when t o d 17 i, is adjustedto r"naximurn- -to increase the effe ive length of the les 111,.' but t0 yield whntSaidrQdiS adjusted inthe opposite direction; i. e., to decrease the effective' length of said leg 11.

The extension b ow I (Bissupported, at its outboard end, from theground by a verticalbpow 24 whichF includes upstanding end legs Ziand a bo c ro'ss,bar 2 6, The pperfpofaon of each of are un einen@ legsizs 4is formed with a tip 27 whichuext at anupward and inward incline topivotalconn ;n, as' at 28, witl 1 the related end leg 11 adjacentbnt short of. said outer cross 15H12; Said tirs ylyiilaff the .insdeof SaidV ,leas-1. 1 When the supporting bow124 Vis in its .vertical position of use the tips 27 abut theoutercross bar 12, as at 29, whereby to automatically position said bow 24 when it is swung froma folded position, as in dotted lines in Fig. 4, to the full-line position shown therein. When the supporting bow 24 is in its folded position it lies closely adjacent and parallel to the extension bow 10.

-The described foldable frame of the trailer tent is encompassed by, and supports, a tent cover of fabric which includes-generally-a top panel 30, an outer side wall 31, and end walls 32 'and 33, The top panel 30 andthe end walls 32 and ,33 ar e se cured at their lower margins to the related side and ends of the body 2 ol' the trailer. The end wall 32, `in the portion of the tent laterally of the body 2 of the trailer, is formed with a door,

as shown.

4The outer side wall 31 includes, at its lower corner, rings or loops 34 through which ground stakes 35 are driven, whereby to tension said outer side wall and to maintain the correspondingcorners of the tent in place.

Additionally, the tent includes a fabric floor 36 which extends, in integral relation, from the lower edge of the outer side wall 31 to a point adjacent the trailer; said iioor turning upwardly, to provide a closure skirt 37, and being secured by suitable means to the adjacent side of the body 2 of the trailer.

By reason of the inclusion in the described frame, of the extension bow 10, the enclosure provided by the tent laterally of ythe body 2, or alongside the trailer, is of substantiallygreater width than could be obtained by the arrangement shown in my said prior patent, and additionally the supporting bow 24 affords greater stability and durability of said frame, with sagging or wrinlcling of the cover being minimized.

With such relatively large enclosure alongside the trailer, occupancy is much more convenient, and the enclosure is sufficiently large to receive a bed, chairs, and other camping accessories. i

When it is desired to strike the tent the stakes 35 are pulled and the end legs 11 of the extension bow 10 are adjusted to reduce the reach of rsaid bow; the latter as so adjusted then being substantially the length of vthe adjacent bow 7. Thereafter, the supporting bow 24, which has a reach substantially that of the bow 7, is swung laterally inwardly and upwardly until it lies close to, and in substantial parallelism with, said extension bow lt).

Next, the folded-together supporting bow 24 and extension bow 10, are swung laterallyinwardly about the pivot 13 until they lie closely adjacent and substantially parallel to the bow 7. o

The final 'manipulationin the folding of the frame-- is to swing the already folded 'bow 24', bow 10, and bow 7, in the'direction of the trailer, which folds said bows aga'in'st'the bows 6 vand 5 and all thereof into acornpletely folded or collapsed ycompact assembly, indicated generally at 38, and as shownin dotted lines in Fig. 2, resting on top of the Vbody `2 of the 'trailer 1.

The cover of the tent is of course also folded in association with the assembly 38, and for transport said as sembly and the folded cover is preferably enclosed within a snap-on hood (not shown).

With the described trailer tent frame it may be readily erected, or struck, with. a minimum of effort, and in a short time, yet providing the very substantial advantages hereinbefore set forth.'

From theforegoing de seription it will be readily seen that there has been `pfodiiced such adevice as will substantially full-ill the objects of the invention, as set forth hereiu. W7, t. v.

While this specicatipn sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined bythe appended claims.

Having tliusV es cribed the i vention, thefollowiiig is claimed as new 'and u'seful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A foldable ltent frame comprising, with an aboveground support, a bow unit foldably mounted atits lower end on the support and including abow which, when the frame is unfolded, extends at an upwardand outward incline lfrom the support, a second bow extendingjoutwardly from the upper end Lof the rst named bow, means pivoting thesecond bow at its inner end to the upper end of the first named bow for folding thereagainst, a third bow extending downwardly from the outer end of the second bow, the second bow including transversely spaced legs and a cross bar connecting thesame at their outer ends, the third bow having corresponding legs formed with inwardly 'and upwardly inclined tips, and

means pivoting said tips at their upperl ends to the legs of the second bow adjacent but short of the cross ybar whereby the third bow is foldable against the under side of the second bow; said tips being in a position such that the same abutthe cross bar asa stop when the third bow is in a substantially vertical', unfolded position.

2. In a foldable tent frame which includes, with an above-ground support, a foldable bow kunit pivoted in connection with the support and including aplurality of equal length bows one of which when the Aunit is unfolded inclines upwardly and outwardly from the support; an extension bow extending, when in an operative position, outwardly from the upper end of said one bow, a supporting bow extending, when in operative position, downwardly from the outer end of the extension bow to the ground, means horizontally pivoting the supporting bow at its upper end to the outer end ofthe extension bow for folding against the under side of said extension bow, and means horigontally pivoting the extension bow at its inner end on vthe outer end of said one bow for folding against the downwardly facing side of the latter; said extension bow being `as long as said one bow whereby the outer surface of a portion of a tent covermounted on the frame and connected to the bows, will cover the bow unit from above when the frame is completely folded.

References Cited in the Vtile of this patent UNrTED STATES' PATENTS 1,185,931 

